Travelling to a strange country for the first time in your life can be a very daunting experience, especially if you have a family or are spending your hard-earned savings. To help ease your mind, we have compiled a list of most frequently asked questions.

Q: Is it safe to travel in South Africa?
A: Despite the media hype and the occasional bad publicity, South Africa is really quite a safe destination to visit.  The roads and general infrastructure are excellent and car rental is an effective way of travelling to popular attractions.  Most tourists experience no problems at all and many return again and again.  Apply basic common sense, like not carrying valuables in plain view, keeping cameras hidden and don’t go about walking alone at night.  Be aware of onlookers and make use of hotel safety deposit boxes.  Travellers with tour operators/groups are the least at risk and self-drive clients are advised to plan in advance which routes they wish to travel to and to get all of their destination information ahead of arrival.  If travelling by car, make sure the doors are locked at all times and that no bags or purses are left on passenger seats.  Avoid picking up hitch hickers.

Q: When is the best time to travel to Southern Africa?
A: It depends completely on what you intend doing here.  The summer months (October to April) are best for beach activities and visits to coastal resorts and cities like Cape Town and Durban, where temperatures average between 25’C and 33’C.  If you intend going on safari, the winter months (May to September) are better for game viewing, as it is also the dry season and animals are easier to spot around rivers and water holes.  The main holiday season is in December/January and if you intend visiting South Africa in this time, you had better book your accommodation way in advance to avoid disappointment as most hotels and guest houses tend to fill up very quickly.

Q: Where is the best place to see wild animals?
A: South Africa is known as a fantastic game viewing destination.  The Kruger National Park is probably the best known and is famous for its management policies, great infrastructure and superb wildlife.  Situated north of Johannesburg, this two million hectare park contains the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) as well as endangered animals like wild dog and over 500 bird species.  There are a number of smaller game reserves around the Kruger, sharing in the magnificent animal wealth.  There are many kinds of accommodation, from comfortable to luxurious, available in the area.  Other well-known game reserves are the Pilanesberg National Park, the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Wildlife Park and Madikwe Game Reserve.

Q: What else is there to do in South Africa apart from safari?
A: South Africa is a stunning country offering many activities.  Around the coast, there are the water-based sports like scuba diving and snorkelling – especially on the South Coast, where there are lovely coral reefs and a colourful underwater sea life.  There is also surfing (with a world-famous break at Jeffrey’s Bay), whale watching in Hermanus (some of the best land-based whale watching in the world), and swimming at the Cape and KwaZulu-Natal’s beautiful beaches.  There are many adventure activities as well: shark cage diving, river rafting trips, bungi jumping, absailing, sandboarding and mountain biking to name but a few!  The country is also well known for cosmopolitan and beautiful cities with a vibrant atmosphere and bustling nightlife, where you can enjoy shopping, jazz cafés, gourmet dining, boat rides, clubbing, gambling at legitimate casinos and much more.